First Ride at Hickory Ridge Nature Preserve

Exploring New Trails After a Big Day at the NICA State Championship

Some days just turn into the perfect kind of ride day — and this past Sunday was one of those.

I started out the morning cheering on all the young racers at the New York State NICA Championship Race at Ontario County Park. If you’ve never been to one of these events, it’s such an awesome thing to experience — the energy, the camaraderie, and the pure love for mountain biking was everywhere. Huge props to all the kids who were out there giving it their all on the trails!

After the race wrapped up, I still had some energy left in the tank. Since I was already down in the area, I decided to take a short drive over to a spot I’d been meaning to check out for a while — Hickory Ridge Nature Preserve in Naples, NY.

It was my first ride at Hickory Ridge, and I have to say — this place is a hidden gem. The trail builders have done a great job creating a network that offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking for fast flow or a little more tech.

Here’s what I rode on this first visit:

Hemlock — a nice warm-up with some fun rhythm. Flow — just what the name suggests — smooth and fun! Hoverfly — a great mix of flow and features. Channery — this one surprised me! Great trail with a really nice feel, added a perfect finishing touch to the ride

The trails were in fantastic shape. I had an absolute blast just rolling through and soaking it all in. Hickory Ridge has this great vibe — tucked away in the Finger Lakes, with some beautiful scenery and trails that reward both beginners and experienced riders alike.

Of course, I had my camera gear with me, so I put together a quick ride video to share with all of you. It’s always fun to bring you along on these trail adventures and hopefully inspire a few more people to get out and ride.

Watch the full ride video here:https://youtu.be/ogLs5eTosBM?si=g0eNuqhel9qbcuZM

Gear Spotlight: Club Ride Apparel

One other thing I want to mention — I was fully geared up in some of my favorite Club Ride Apparel pieces for this ride. If you haven’t tried their MTB apparel yet, you’re seriously missing out. It’s built for riding but looks great off the bike too — super comfortable and functional. Perfect for days like this when you’re going from cheering at a race to exploring new trails.

If you want to grab some for yourself, I’ve got an affiliate link + discount code for you:

Get 15% OFF Club Ride Apparel with code FITGEARSPOT15

https://alnk.to/gp2RNru — use code: FITGEARSPOT15

What I was wearing during the ride:

🟢 New West Original Pearl Snap Ride Shirt🟢 Spoke Tech Riding Pant

Not only does this help support the channel, but I only recommend gear I truly believe in and ride in myself.

Final Thoughts

If you’re local (or even if you’re making the drive from Rochester or anywhere in the Finger Lakes region), I highly recommend putting Hickory Ridge Nature Preserve on your ride list this season. It’s the perfect spot to spend a few hours, whether you’re looking for a new trail to explore or adding it onto a day at OCP.

I’ll definitely be heading back — there are still more trails I want to explore, and I’d love to string together an even bigger loop next time.

Have you ridden Hickory Ridge yet? If so, drop a comment on the video or shoot me a message — I’d love to hear which trails are your favorites and what I should hit next time I’m down there.

As always — thanks for following along, supporting the channel, and being part of this awesome MTB community we’re building through Fit Gear Spot.

See you out on the trails! - Jamie